This year our Whatcom Reads Kids and Teens Author Steve Sheinkin is only available to visit three schools. Our county is full of great schools, and figuring out the best places to host Mr. Sheinkin was a huge challenge.

An application with essay questions was sent out, and 8 standout schools applied. These applications were reviewed by members of the Whatcom Reads Kids and Teens Committee made up of educators, librarians and children's lit aficionados from all over Whatcom County.

After spirited debate, the schools Mr. Sheinkin will visit are:

Geneva Elementary School Blaine Middle School Lynden High School

For us, Whatcom Reads Kids and Teens is not about an author visit at a particular school as much as all of us building community around great books. Even if Mr. Sheinkin is not visiting your school we hope you will participate by delving into his books and coming to hear him speak at the free author event Monday March 3rd -6:30 pm at Whatcom Middle School.

The applications we received are too good to just file away. We were impressed by the partnerships schools foresaw and the opportunities for student leadership and scholarship. Here are a few highlights.

Elementary: “All of the 4th and 5th grade teachers in our building are reading Lincoln’s Grave Robbers aloud to their classes…Students are creating maps of characters and events in the book to help them follow along…Students will be working on their own writing projects focusing on historical events…They will come prepared with their writing notebooks and questions that pertain to writing informational text.”

“A committee of 4th and 5th grade reps will help plan and promote the event.”

“Kids will create book trailers, develop questions, and advertise the event in a student generated newsletter. Welcome posters created by students would be all over the school.”

Middle School: “I would send flyers home to student's parents encouraging them to not only have their student to read the book, but to read and attend the event themselves.”

“This program is a fun way to connect the act of reading with the art of writing.”

High School:

“March 3rd is part of Read Across America which students will be participating in later that day by going to various elementary schools in the district and reading to younger students. Having an author come speak would be a celebration on all levels of reading for that very special day!”

“Our teen reading club will help organize this visit…club members will make sure the author has everything that he would need to make him comfortable. In addition, students will make sure that visiting parents are tended to.”

Thanks to all the schools that applied. Looking forward to partnering with you in the future, and see you all Monday March 3rd at Whatcom Middle School!

Best, Aubri Keleman On behalf of the Whatcom Reads Kids and Teens Committee